6 anglers, 22 violations

[Lee Borgersen]

 Six anglers, 22 violations in one BWCAW fishing group.
3/29/16

Minnesota Conservation Officer Anthony Bermel saw trucks at the parking lot and decided to take the long walk to Gabbro Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on Saturday.





It turned out to be a productive hike.

  .....
Bermel, who patrols the Babbitt area for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, walked "several miles" to the lake and found six ice-fishing anglers in one group.

The officer quickly identified 22 violations among the group, including fishing without a license, fishing for northern pike after the season was closed, leaving lines unattended, fishing with more than two lines per person and a combined 123 aluminum cans in a federal wilderness where aluminum cans are banned.


"It turned out to be worth the walk," Bermel told the News Tribune on Monday. There is still ample ice on the lake, but most of the snow has melted, Bermel said, so walking wasn't too tough.

"I think they were a little surprised to see me that far in" the wilderness, he said. "I think they thought they were going to be alone."

In all, Bermel issued 13 formal citations, at least one to each of the ice anglers, all men in their 20s and 30s, and in some cases multiple violations to a few of the anglers. Those men could face losing their fishing privileges.

The men, who were from outside Minnesota, were issued citations and have the choice of either paying the fines or challenging the accusations in court.

  ..
Bermel said he didn't issue all 22 citations because a few in the group seemed to genuinely not know what the regulations are. But he said others in the group had fished in the BWCAW before and should have known the rules and should have told their friends.


"I guess the message here is if you are going somewhere new, do the research. Look at the regulations for that area before you go," Bermel said. "Don't count on your buddy telling you" what's legal and what isn't.